Compare towns
Randolph vs Waterville vs Walden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Randolph has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Waterville has the most kids (20.4% under 18).
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Randolph | Waterville | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,843Highest |
680Lowest |
1,037 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4Lowest 6% below VT |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
| Waterville and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Randolph and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
$88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
| Walden and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,700±$38kHighest 12% below VT |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
$238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
| Randolph and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,172±$173Highest 5% below VT |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
$900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
| Randolph and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,698Highest 7% below VT |
$3,957 21% below VT |
$3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Walden and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 12% below VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Walden and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #55 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | Randolph Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.